Singapore grouping inks Nanjing eco-island pact

Development will be for commercial, industrial and residential uses
Vincent Wee, Business Times 26 May 09;

SINGAPORE Intelligent Eco Island Development (Eco-Island), a consortium of Yanlord Land Group, Sembcorp Industries' unit Sembcorp Industrial Parks and Surbana Land, yesterday signed a collaborative agreement to develop the Sino-Singapore Nanjing Eco High-Tech Island in Nanjing, China.

To be completed in three phases, the development will include about six million square metres of gross floor area in prime commercial, industrial and residential complexes in Jiangxinzhou, 6.5 km from Nanjing's city centre. It is Nanjing City's largest foreign collaborative development.

The commercially driven project is a key initiative under the auspices of the Singapore-Jiangsu Cooperation Council, a bilateral platform launched in November 2007 to promote cooperation between Singapore and Jiangsu. International Enterprise (IE) Singapore signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nanjing Municipal People's Government last November to jointly support the feasibility study of the Eco High-Tech Island led by Yanlord, Sembcorp and Surbana.

Eco-Island signed the agreement with Nanjing Jiangdao Investment and Development Co Ltd, witnessed by Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng, Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Manpower Lee Yi Shyan, Jiangsu Province Party Secretary Liang Baohua, Jiangsu Province Governor Luo Zhi Jun and representatives from the participating companies.

'The Singapore-Nanjing Eco High-Tech Island project will deepen the existing strong and close cooperation between Singapore and Jiangsu,' said Mr Lee, who is also vice-chairman of the Singapore-Jiangsu Cooperation Council.

'The project is envisioned to render Jiangxinzhou a model for sustainable growth characterised by eco-friendly designs and knowledge industry development. Driven by the private sectors of both sides, the conception of the project has received strong support from the Singapore and Jiangsu governments through the Singapore-Jiangsu Cooperation Council,' he added.

The site will have excellent credentials with urban planning led by renowned architect-planner and Surbana board member Liu Thai Ker as adviser. The urban planning will be carried out by Surbana urban planners who have won global planning awards.

It is slated as a platform for the sustainable development of high-tech, smart industries and services in an ecologically conscious environment.

The agreement is not expected to have a material impact on Yanlord's or Sembcorp's earnings per share and the net tangible asset value per share for the financial year ending Dec 31, 2009.

Sembcorp shares closed seven cents higher at $2.98 yesterday, while Yanlord gained 12 cents to $1.93.

Eco island to built in Nanjing
Straits Times 26 May 09;

NANJING: - After the eco city, here comes the Eco Island.

Singapore signed a deal with China yesterday to build another environmentally friendly project.

Far removed from the eco city, which is located in northern Tianjin city, the eco island will be sited in Nanjing, the capital of southern Jiangsu province. The project, named Singapore-Nanjing Eco High-Tech Island, is jointly undertaken by a Singapore consortium and Nanjing partners.

Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng and Jiangsu party boss Liang Baohua witnessed its signing and groundbreaking ceremony at the Jiangxinzhou Island, which is 6.5km from Nanjing city centre.

The Eco High-Tech Island will be built over 50 sq km of the island, which can be reached only by ferry now. A tunnel and a bridge will be built to link it to the mainland.

Jiangxinzhou Island is largely made up of farm land, with about 13,000 residents who will be resettled as construction starts on the eco island zone. The project is slated for completion in 2020.

The commercially driven project is supported by both the Singapore and Jiangsu governments, and is expected to house many of the world's leading technology companies.

The eco island will be Nanjing's largest joint project with foreign investors.

Minister of State (Trade and Industry and Manpower) Lee Yi Shyan said: 'The project is envisioned to render Jiangxinzhou a model for sustainable growth characterised by eco-friendly designs and knowledge industry development.'

PEH SHING HUEI

Breaking ground on another eco city in China
Glenda Chong, Today Online 26 May 09;

NANJING — A consortium of Singapore companies will jointly develop another eco high-tech city in China. The groundbreaking ceremony for the Singapore-Nanjing Eco High-Tech Island was held yesterday morning, officiated by Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng.

The US$50.5-billion ($73-billion) project in Jiangxinzhou is Nanjing’s largest foreign collaborative development. Spanning an area of about 6 million square metres, it will house commercial, industrial and residential complexes. Jiangxinzhou is a stone’s throw away from Nanjing’s city centre.

The Eco High-Tech Island will bedeveloped by Singapore Intelligent Eco Island Development and Nanjing Jiangdao Investment and Development.

Singapore Intelligent Eco Island Development is a joint venture company formed by Yanlord Land Group, Sembcorp Industrial Parks and Surbana Land. The joint venture will hold a50-per-cent stake in the project with Nanjing Jiangdao Investment and Development.

Each company will bring its own unique brand to the island’s development.

Mr Zhong Sheng Jian, chairman and chief executive of Yanlord, said: “Besides our vast experiences, our main expertise will continue to be concentrated on the development of commercial, real-estate and industrial projects.”

Mr Low Sin Leng, executive chairman of Sembcorp Industrial Parks, said: “We will ensure that we will optimise the use of water and power and maintain high stringent standards in terms of waste water management and emission control as well as tapping on our experience into using waste into resources.”

Mr Tan Thai Hong, the chief executive of Surbana, said: “The mix of business, industrial and recreational facilities of living environment must be thought through right from the beginning and religiously controlled throughout the process and it is precisely in this that Surbana has this expertise.”

The first phase of the Eco High-Tech Island is expected to be completed in 2020. Channel NewsAsia